Projects I've Not Completed Yet

Some peoples' blogs have themes.  They share knowledge and ideas.  They inspire and motivate.  They are cohesive and organized.
My blog is different.  Apparently I just want to write little snippets.  About my life.  About a random thought that passes through my head.  About a recipe I try and like (or make for the fiftieth time and still like).

I just wanted to get that off my chest.  I know my blog is a potpourri.  I know that you don't know what you're going to get when you come over here.  Sometimes it stresses me.  I'm sorry if it stresses you.  Now I feel we can continue with my list of Projects I've Not Completed Yet.  That "yet" says it all.  That "yet" explains why my projects sit in plain sight, unfinished, for months and months.  Because I honestly think that I will complete these projects!

1. Organizing my "recipes to try."  I've gotten the recipes corralled by a black binder.  They are sorted into categories such as pork, chicken, kebabs, pizza, etc. in manila folders.  The binder and folders have been sitting on one of our kitchen chairs since late summer.  When people come over I move them to our office.

2. Organizing my "home and garden ideas."  Same thing as with the recipes, except this pile lives in the office full time.

3. Going through each and every old magazine I have and pulling out recipes I want to try and home/garden ideas.  These magazines live in a basket in our office and under our living room coffee table and in a basket in our kitchen.  I have a lot of magazines.

4. Creating the family memory-genealogy book for my grandparents.  This has to be done by Christmas, so at least  I have a deadline.

5. Scrapbooking the first couple months of my boy's life.  With about seven hundred photos to weed through, you will understand my delay.  And the fact that I have a two-month old.  That's a factor too.  However, when I do find time, all the paper and stickers and photos are stacked in Idea Groups on our table and buffet downstairs!

6. Stacking the empty planters somewhere other than the far corner of our deck.  No, wait, that's a project my hubby hasn't completed yet.

6. Starting my Christmas Shopping Notebook.  It's where I first write ideas for each person for Christmas, then write what I've purchased and how much I've spent.  It's a great little resource, until the week before Christmas, when I throw caution to the wind and start buying "one more little thing" without writing it down.  Shh.  Don't tell.

7. Painting shapes for the nursery's wall art.  And then hanging the pictures my Mom painted.  In other words, finishing decorating the nursery.  Shame on me.  Bad mom.  Mother's guilt sets in early, I can vouch for that.

I'd like to say I'm wrapping up this post so I can start one of these projects.  In reality, I am going to take a shower.  Then I'm going to fold the laundry I started yesterday.  Then... we'll see.

My Three Day Uniform (Don't Judge Me)

I have to wash my uniform today.

I'm worried.  I have a lot of questions, questions that don't have easy answers.

What will I wear during the approximately 24-hour drying period?  Will my other clothes be binding and restrictive and tight?  If they are, will they keep me from chowing down on chips and salsa or going through the drive through for an Oreo McFlurry?  If they do, will I be pleased with this discipline at the end of the day or will I beg my husband to take me out for that ice cream fix?  Will I stop wearing stretchy pants every day?  Will I again reserve them for evenings and weekends only?  Will this help me fit back into my pre-pregnancy jeans faster?

Ahem.  My mind really started running there.

But it has to be done.  I can't wear the same stretchy pants and a baggy sweatshirt for more than three days in a row.  Even with two years and a baby under our marital belt, I don't want my husband to know that I am in near-daily danger of succumbing to my undisciplined, sleep-until-ten-and-eat-pizza-every-day self. 

Farewell for now, my uniform.

Startling Realization:  two years and a baby into it, he probably already knows my weaknesses.  I'm lucky he agrees to pizza every Sunday and kindly says "how about this weekend" most nights that I suggest a post-dinner ice cream snack.  He's a strong, wise man.

No Use Crying Over Spilled Oatmeal

I hope this isn't indicitave of how my day will proceed.

It happened when I walked into the office this morning, to check online if it's too late (or advisable at all) to transplant my thriving rosemary plant to a pot so I can keep it inside this winter.  You think November 3 a little late to just be starting to think about transplanting?  I have two excuses.  1) We've had a lovely Indian summer and the sunny weather fooled me.  2) The new man in my life keeps me pretty busy.

Anyhow, something happened when I walked into the office and sat down.  The oatmeal went kersplat.  The good news is, I was able to scoop it off the floor with a wide spatula in just one smooth move.  The bad news is, I have been eating oatmeal that congeals enough that it can be scooped up with a spatula.

So here is my second breakfast.   decided not to attempt another bout with oatmeal.  Peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich.  Tasty, no?

Here's to days that end better than they begin!



What a (Pregnant) Woman Wants...

With my second trimester has come hunger, extreme hunger.  I'm a little concerned that I might be eating more than is truly necessary for the little life inside of me.  I think I have to assume that with my amazing return of energy and the growth of my baby, comes an equally amazing need for more calories to burn, but still...  To be on the safe side, I'm going to ask my doctor on Monday.  Because although I've got my energy back, I haven't exactly taken to the gym every morning OR evening for the last two weeks.
While I have immense respect for the women who gain 60 pounds while pregnant, then shed it with a bootcamp combo of no-carbs and 2-a-day workouts post-birth... I don't really want to be one of them.  I'd prefer to gain a modest 20 to 30 pounds and then shed them with a normal diet, yoga and walks with my brand-new baby in the fall!

This week has really marked the beginning of my Hunger Strike.  I've been trying to come up with creative, filling, somewhat healthful meals, especially for lunch, since I'm lucky enough to be able to stop work for an hour to eat and relax at home each day.

So here it is... a look at What This Pregnant Woman Wants*.  Be prepared.  These are no light lunches for a tidy, girly appetite.  This is, after all, a Hunger Strike we're talking about.

 An amaaaazing omelet - eggs with milk, shredded sharp cheddar and feta.  With two slices of bread.  Note the lack of veggies though.  I'm working on that...

These are Tostitos Hint of Lime chips... yum...

My amazing toasted sandwich, with pickle slices and lettuce.  Took it to the next level!

Leftover Potato-Leek pizza and steamed green beans.  But that wasn't all I had...

Yes, a little strawberry shortcake!

Another piece of Potato-Leek pizza.  Very filling, very satisfying.  And take a look at that salad!

This is a little salad trick of mine.  I like to put low-fat cottage cheese on my salad.  It lends creaminess and plenty of flavor so you don't have to use as much dressing!  And of course, sunflower seeds for a little omega-3 boost.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into my lunch life.

*"Wants."  These meals are not completely honest representations of my "wants."  If they were, they would include a lot more ice cream and chips.  However, since these are not things I indulge in every day when I'm not pregnant, I didn't think now was any time to be starting.  I don't want my child to come into this world with a born-in love for Doritos and Cookies n' Cream!

Strawberry Shortcakes

The Strawberry Shortcake.  A taste of spring.  Even when using Reddi Whip and a Hostess Shortcake.

Embrace your version of the strawberry shortcake today.

Steakhouse Dinner

It may look like we're livin' large at Ruth Chris or Hereford House... but no, we just dined it up in style at home.

A couple things I love about having a steak dinner at home...

I can wear my yoga pants, a tee shirt stained with dirt from a little yard work, and no shoes.

I can eat fresh green beans, completely unspoiled by butter or oil or anything else.  You just can't get a truly plain vegetable at a steak house.  And really, why would you try?  The onion fries or the sauteed mushrooms are just so delicious.
Point two kind of got lost there.  I meant to say something more like "I know exactly how my food is prepared, so I'm not consuming a lot of unnecessary fat or sodium."

To prepare the T-bones, we rubbed a little olive oil on them and then rubbed on about 2 teaspoons steak rub per steak.  My grandma gave this to us for Christmas.  It's so flavorful - too flavorful for our tastes on these excellent pieces of meat.  I rubbed most of the rub off my steak once it made it to my plate, and the amazing thing was that the flavor had just melted into the meat.  Ideal!  Next time we'll probably use this as a marinade instead of a rub.